We undertook this study to understand reinforcement mechanism of short cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and long cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) as compatibility agents for improving the interfacial miscibility of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blends. The effects of the two cellulose nanofibers on the morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties of the polymer blends were compared systematically. The light transparency, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared results show that nanocellulose between PVA and PEO eliminated the negative effects generated by the immiscible interface through increased hydrogen bonding. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry results show that crystalline region reorganization around the interface facilitated the shift of the polymer blends from multiple phases to a homogeneous phase. According to the Halpin‐Kardos and Quali models, we assumed that the potential for repairing the immiscible interface would have a larger effect than the potential of reinforcement. At the same concentration, polymer blends with CNCs showed greater light transparency, strength, modulus, and crystal structure than with those with CNFs. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45896.

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The study of the shear strain distribution at the bonding interface helped us to understand the bamboo bonding interface response mechanisms to solve problems of ply bamboo deformation or bonding failure. The shear strain distribution across a twoply bamboo sheet bonded with a ductile phenol-formaldehyde resin (PF) modified by poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was measured by means of electronic speckle pattern interferometry, along with tensile strength measurements to prove the shear stain distribution on a macroscopic scale. This research effectively combined macroscopic mechanical properties with microcosmic interfacial mechanical properties. The shear strength and shear strain results showed that PF modified with 20% PVA performed better than common PF and PF modified with 5 and 10% PVA. Microscopic fluorescent characterization of the bonding interface also provided evidence that a new bonding mechanism was adequate for bamboo bonding under the ductile PF modified with 20% PVA. Moreover, we suppose that the results of this study will help in the choice of bamboo-specific adhesives under different strain conditions.